Metered Access

Crain's Detroit Business is a metered site. Print and digital subscribers have unlimited access to stories, but registered users are limited to eight stories every 30 days. After viewing three metered stories, you'll be asked to register or log in. After eight more stories in 30 days, you'll be asked to subscribe.

Forbes: Detroit Lions are NFL's biggest money-loser

Despite renewed fan enthusiasm and expectations, the Detroit Lions continue to struggle financially, according to new annual revenue estimates issued by Forbes.com late Wednesday (link).

The Lions posted an NFL-worst $7.7 million operating income loss for the 2010 season, on revenue of $228 million (a franchise record but the third least of the league's 32 teams; up from $210 million the season prior). The only other team in the red was the Cleveland Browns at minus-$2.9 million.

Detroit was estimated to have lost $2.9 million on the 2009 season.

Forbes defines operating income as earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization.

And the losses are despite a league-wide revenue-sharing deal that gives each team about $100 million, and a $3 million increase in gate receipt (up to $40 million last season from $37 million the year prior).

The Dallas Cowboys, as usual, led the league with a whopping $119 million in operating income, which was followed by the Washington Redskins at $66 million.

Detroit's value as a franchise increased 12 percent in the past year to $844 million from $817 million. That was the seventh-best year-over-year growth in the league. The team is ranked at the NFL's 26th-most valuable team, up one spot from last season's estimates.

At the top of the value heap are the Cowboys at $1.8 billion. At the bottom are the Jacksonville Jaguars at $725 million.

The Lions' debt-to-value ratio improved to 33 percent, which is down from 43 percent a season ago. That stems from a $350 million debt load on the $500 million construction of Ford Field, which opened in 2002.

The team also had a franchise record $147 million in player payroll (including benefits and bonuses) last year, according to Forbes.

Detroit should post better numbers for the upcoming season, at least in revenue and income. The front office has said it is seeing improvement in ticket sales, suite leases and corporate sponsorship deals (link), all fueled by interest in an improving team that's expected to soon begin contending for the playoffs.